Session Musician I Singer Songwriter

She can play, and she writes the songs that make you sing! In addition to her solo career, Christina Apostolopoulos is a sought-after session musician, known predominantly for her slide guitar chops. She has played lead guitar for many bands, including Vista Kicks, wIth whom she opened for The Rolling Stones at Hyde Park last summer.

Los Angeles-based Singer Songwriter Christina Apostolopoulos (spelled with 5 O's and easy after you say it a few times: A-posto-lopou-los) sings and writes songs reminiscent of Joni Mitchell, and that's not all!  Apostolopoulos has a sweet sense of humor and she's a skilled song-smith.

Born in Toronto and raised on the sunny shores of Santa Barbara, she grew up on the music of influential songwriters like Paul Simon and Jackson Browne. Christina began her own guitar journey at age seven. She attended Berklee College of Music on a partial scholarship, where she was featured in songwriting showcases every year of her attendance. Apostolopoulos recently finished writing and recording a full-length album with Cuffed Up, a punk band she joined last fall. Read more including a brief interview with Christina here

Henry Mancini's name is synonymous with great motion picture and television music, and fine recordings. During his lifetime, Mancini was nominated for 72 Grammy Awards, winning 20. He was nominated for 18 Academy Awards winning 4 Oscars. Moon River and The Pink Panther themes spell Mancini. This month his Panther came to life in historic sessions, along with his other signature tracks recorded at five iconic studios - Abbey Road (London), East West (LA), Warner/Eastwood stage (Burbank), Power Station (NY) and the Warehouse (Canada).

" [Hank’s] heart was really with big orchestras and hiring musicians– having all those guys in the studio and being one of the guys. He loved hanging with the musicians; there was an energy in the room,” says the beloved composer's daughter, Monica Mancini. Producer and husband, Gregg Field selected choice musicians to re-create the magic. Among selected guest musicians were award-winning rapper-singer Lizzo with virtuoso flautist Sir James Galway featured in a duet at the Power Station.

The Pink Panther Music from the Film Score Composed and Conducted by Henry Mancini is a soundtrack album from the 1963 movie The Pink Panther starring David Niven and Peter Sellers. The music was composed and conducted by Henry Mancini. The album and title song were nominated for the Grammy Awards for Best Album or Original Score and Best Pop Instrumental Performance. It was also nominated for an Academy Award for best score.

Mancini created many memorable film scores including Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Pink Panther, Days of Wine and Roses, Charade, Victor/Victoria, The Glass Menagerie, to name a few. Henry Mancini wrote two books: Sounds and Scores – A Practical Guide to Professional Orchestration, which can be found on the shelf of virtually every serious student of music, and his autobiography Did They Mention The Music?

The upcoming Mancini Centennial Tribute EP is being released in 2024, in time for Mancini’s 100th birthday celebration. CBS Sunday Morning is covering some of the sessions, including the first session at the Warner Brothers lot featuring some of the original musicians to include maestro John Williams (he played keyboards on the original Peter Gunn), with the legendary Quincy Jones. Arturo Sandoval and maestro Herbie Hancock, were among special guests at the first session at Warner Brothers, Burbank.

studioexpresso met up with Grammy-winning producer Gregg Field who just returned from Vancouver, Canada with more sessions for the new

Mancini -100 EP

SE: The upcoming Mancini Centennial Tribute EP is being released in 2024, in time for Mancini’s 100th birthday Celebration. Anything else you can add?

GF: We're recording six of Henry's most beloved songs with some special guest artists, beginning with Peter Gunn, which featured John Williams reprising his original piano part, Quincy conducting, Herbie Hancock playing Piano and keys with Arturo Sandoval. We recorded it on the Warner/Eastwood Recording Stage with Tommy Vicari engineering.

SE: You had a Big Band full of All Stars record the Pink Panther Theme in New York. What can you say about your choice of musicians, studios, engineers, and the arrangements?

GF: We recorded the Pink Panther at the Power Station in New York with Lizzo and Sir James Galway as a flute duet feature that Dan Higgins and I put together augmenting Henry's original Big Band and Strings arrangement. It was my first time working with Lizzo and she couldn't have been more delightful to work with. Lizzo is a serious flute player and was thrilled to meet and be recording with her hero James Galway. We had an amazing rhythm section with Arturo O'Farrill, John Pattitucci, Russell Malone, Stefon Harris. I was doing double duty playing drums and producing. We also had eight of NY's finest brass players. The NY crew was great and we had my old friend Josiah Gluck who made a lot of great records for us at Concord (records) back in the day.

SE: On which track is Michael Buble singing and who else is part of your team in Canada, London and Los Angeles?

GF: The crown jewel of Henry's repertoire is Moon River and there have been countless recordings including a new release earlier this month by Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck. Beyonce, Morrissey and Frank Ocean have also covered it over the last few years. For the Mancini 100 EP, I felt like we should record a version that incorporated Henry's original arranging. I reached out to Michael Buble and he was on board. We started by having the arranger Rob Mounsey create and adaptation of two versions of Moon River and we recorded the rhythm section at East West in LA by Don Murray. Dean parks, Chuck Berghofer, Randy Waldman, and I have all made a few records with Michael and I knew he would feel comfortable with that crew. For the orchestra, I decided to record in London with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road 2 with Chris Walden conducting and Jonathan Allen engineering. Jonathan's roughs sounded great and I then traveled to Vancouver to record Michael at the Warehouse Studios with engineer Joe Chiccarelli. Joe recorded a number of Michael's vocals on Higher. We have been friends for years and to my luck, Joe happened to be in Vancouver and available.

SE: Who else is involved and what can we expect following the release?

GF: I'm producing the EP, but we are doing alternative versions on a couple of the songs and there are a couple of producers I'm really looking forward to collaborating with. We are having all the sessions covered for a full-length documentary with our partners at Universal/Mercury Studios. Another blessing has been CBS Sunday Morning has been covering all the sessions as well.

SE: Can you share what other titles are on this EP? 

GF: In addition to Pink Panther, Moon River and Peter Gunn, we have recorded a song of Henry's that is blowing up on TikTok called Lujon (also known as Slow Hot Wind). You likely won't know it by name but you'll know the music. The British band Inhaler is actually using Lujon as their walk on Music. We recorded it in LA and in London as well. We will also be recording The Days of Wine and Roses with a great artist but I'm sworn to secrecy until we confirm her.

SE: I noticed some special touches in the studio like plush Pink Panther toys, poster of Pink Panther conducting, and his pink paw markings on the studio floor -brilliant Gregg! Looked like maestro Mancini's spirit was very much at these session with you and Monica.

GF: Yeah, we had a lot of fun with that. I wanted to create a special environment for all the sessions. Not only for the guest artists, but for all the musicians and engineers as well. For the Abbey Road Moon River session, Henry's daughter (and my wife) Monica Mancini and Audrey Hebpurn's son, Sean Ferrer attended the session. Sean read a letter from the conductors podium to the orchestra that his mom had written to Henry after she first heard his score to the film Breakfast at Tiffany's. It was a powerfully emotional moment for the musicians and it's reflected in the recording.

SE: Sweet. Now we can all enjoy a #ManciniCocktail -- Orange Raspberry Mimosa -- it should go really well with your new Mancini100 EP! "Reinforcements!" (Holly referring to extra drinks in the party scene at Breakfast at Tiffany's)!

studioexpresso Video Spotlight

Christina Apostolopoulos - Gratified

Song credits: Vocals/guitars/harmonica: Christina Apostolopoulos

Drums: Aaron Steele

Pedal Steel: Ray Suen

Organ: Peter Dyer

Produced by: Ian Hultquist

Video Director: Leslie Hope

Video Producer: Tina Vacalopoulos

Production Company: Parallila Pictures

Writer: Christina Apostolopoulos

Christina is currently playing lead guitar for Cuffed Up on their fall US tour. Cuffed Up started in 2018 when songwriter/guitarist Ralph Torrefranca was inspired by the post-punk scene coming out of the UK with bands like IDLES, Fontaines DC and Shame. Sooner after he recruited his long time drummer Joe Liptock and bassist Vic Ordonez to work on a batch of songs for the new project.

Cuffed Up is Ralph Torrefranca, Christina Apostolopoulos, Joe Liptock and Victor Ordonez.

The band will be at the Knitting Factory, Los Angeles on June 8.

The Mix Immersive Music Production event took place in Nashville on May 20. The day began with two of Nashville’s talented studio professionals, producer/artist, Dann Huff and producer/engineer David Leonard, who took the director’s chairs for a free-ranging discussion on the art and business of audio formats, moderated by producer/engineer F. Reid Shippen. Mix co-editor Tom Kenny moderated another session with closing remarks. Vintage King and Avid partnered to host a scavenger hunt during the Mix Immersive Music Production studio crawl in the evening.

Which comes first? The stereo mix or the immersive mix? Or can they take place simultaneously?

No matter the approach, all engineers agree that it should be the artist’s intent and vision that drives the process.

Other panels were on: Why You NEED Immersive Mastering (Despite What You May Hear), Do's and Don'ts of Working in Immersive, and Immersive: Past, Present & Future.

Sponsors included ATC, Focusrite and SSL.

Host Partner Curb Records, along with Columbia Studio A, Quonset Hut, Starstruck Studios, Curb Studio, Front Stage/Back Stage Studios, featured series of expert panels, demos, and listening Sessions.

The evening began at host partner Blackbird Studios, one of the world’s leading recording facilities, where attendees celebrated the day with food, drinks, live band, industry networking and immersive music listening sessions. Curated tracks, as well as on-demand requests from the streamers, were played continuously in Studio C (left), which features a dual mix environment, with a 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos system (Avid S6 console, ATC monitors) in one direction and an API/Genelec-based Sony 360RA setup in the other; and Studio F, featuring a 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos (ATC monitors) immersive music mix environment.

Bryan Pennington, Senior Field Applications Engineer at Dolby was on had in Studio C.

Did you know? Nashville's Berry Hill neighborhood has the highest concentration of immersive music mix studios in the country?

Day activities concluded with a Studio Crawl in the evening at the following studios.

"ATC monitors are something you have to experience to really grasp how different they are from everything else. Lets just say that you can hear details you’ve never heard before, leading you to faster, more accurate decisions in your creative process," says Brad Lunde, President of Trans Audio Group

ATC SCM 25a pro mk2 has been upgraded with ATC’s hand made proprietary SH25-76S Dual Suspension Tweeter, extending the high-frequency response with a reduction in distortion. " Like the original SCM25A, the new upgraded Mk2 is a compact 3-way high-performance active studio monitor loudspeaker, based around the hand made proprietary ATC 3”/75mm soft mid-dome driver and 6.5”/164mm bass driver loaded in a 25-litre vented cabinet," adds Brad Lunde, President of Trans Audio Group. The monitor’s combination of exceptional mid-range clarity, high-output, extended bass response and modest size make it ideal for nearfield monitoring across a wide range of critical applications. ATC of England is the insider’s studio monitor, demanded by the very top level of the music recording community. ATC designs and manufactures nearly all their proprietary components, drivers, and electronics in-house to the absolute highest quality standards. The best of the best rely on ATC monitoring as their main solution for tracking, mixing and mastering. Models range from $5,000 to $50,000 per pair and all share a very similar sound. For larger rooms and midfield, applications check out the SEM45 with dual 6.5-inch drivers and the fantastic SEM150 with a 15-inch woofer and 350 Watts of power. Choose the size that works for your space. More info here

TransAudio Group, U.S. distributer of the finest professional recording equipment in the world, is pleased to announce the new ATC SCS70 Pro, a compact, ultra-high performance subwoofer using ATC’s first, in-house-designed and built sub driver.

Is it actually worth spending money on good speaker stands? That is the question. While looks can be deceiving, you must have seen concrete blocks and other DIY configurations used in some project studios. Speaker stands may not be on top of your purchasing list in 2023, but this 19-minute video by Colt Capperrune @ColtCapperrune may change your mind. $20 block stands are compared with professional stands ranging from $140 Gators to $1,200 Sound Anchor stands. Can you guess which one performs the best? check it out here

Sound Anchors and Redmount products are designed and manufactured in Palm Bay, Florida U.S.A. using American parts and skilled American labor. click here for Sound Anchor dealers in USA

Click on the NAMM Show Link To view -- you have to register first to log in to the link.

Award-winning composers, Matt Wong, David Benoit, and Brent Fischer (Right: with TEC The group with NAMM's David Schwartz and studioexpresso's Claris Sayadian-Dodge) presented a special session on Modern Composer Tools & Tips at the Annaheim Convention Center on April 15 during NAMM 2023.

Curt Bisquera (Sarah McLachlan, Elton John), Kenny Aronoff (Smashing Pumpkins, John Mellencamp, Sting), Greg Penny (Elton John, KD Lang), Rafa Sardina (Lady Gaga, John Legend), Niko Bolas (Neil Young, LeAnn Rimes), Eddie Kramer (Jimi Hedrix, Kiss), Matt Wallace (Maroon 5, Faith No More), Cheche Alara (Christina Aguilera), Kim Bullard (Elton John, Kelly Clarkson), Cristina Abaroa (Celine Dion, Enrique Iglasias), Brady Leffler (Hot Chelle Rae, Justin Beieber), Al Schmitt (Diana Krall, Paul McCartney), Alex Acuna (LA Phil, Beck), Teddy Campbell (American idol, The Tonight Show w Leno), Ellis Hall (Ray Charles, Tower of Power), Jacob Armen (Prince), Peter Asher (James Taylor, Linda Ronstadt), Larry Klein (Joni Mitchell, Melody Gardot), Manny Marroquin (Bruno Mars, Alicia Keys), Dave Schiffman (Adele, Limp Bizkit), Gregg Field (Sinatra, Pharell), Sylvia Massy (Tool, Johnny Cash), CJ Vanston (Toto, spinal Tap), Dame Gail Dorsey (David Bowie, Gwen Stefani), Jenny Mason (The Mrs), Neal Pogue (Outkast, Andre 3000), Leland Sklar (Phil Collins, James Taylor), Moogie Canazio (Sergio Mendes, Sarah Vaughan), Daniel Seeff (KJazz, Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz), James Torme,

Zev Feldman of Resonance Records (Sarah Vaughan, Bill Evans, Nat King Cole), John Wooler of Mood Media (Flying Lotus, Elton John, Miles Davis), David Benoit, Matt Wong, and Brent Fischer (D'Angelo, Elvis Costello and The Roots).

By Holly Knight

Published by Permuted Press; Distributed by Simon & Schuster

Available at Amazon

Many of our readers know producer Mike Chapman (The Knack, Blondie, Pat Benatar). But, do you know his songwriting partner Holly Knight?

Her music career includes crafting mega-hits they co-wrote together -- Better Be Good To Me and The Best, for the late and great Tina Turner (the latter originally recorded by Bonnie Tyler and played at President Biden's 2020 Victory Speech); Love Is a Battlefield for Pat Benatar—songs that celebrate female empowerment and shaped pop and rock music. Knight who is with BMG publishing, sat down in a conversation presented by California Copyright Conference, with Dana Child (Sound As A Pound) on May 23 at the Federal in North Hollywood and gave us a taste of what to expect in her new book I Am The Warrior.

Suitably titled, after her song The Warrior for Patty Smyth, in I Am The Warrior, she tells the story of how much she wanted Chapman to producer her band, Spider's second album. "I felt that if I could collaborate with him and write a great song maybe he would agree to produce," she says. The song they wrote was Better Be Good To Me which she not only recorded with Spider, Chapman producing, the song found its way to Tina Turner and became the second single on her landmark solo album, Private Dancer, launching Holly's music career into the stratosphere. Before all of this, John Waite recorded her song, Change, made famous from it’s inclusion in the movie Vision Quest. Her song Invincible is featured in the film The Legend of Billy Jean. As a writer and musician, Holly Knight went on to work with the likes of KISS, Rod Stewart, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith and Heart. Her songs have appeared in movies as varied as Mad Max Beyond Thunder dome, Thelma and Louise,Thirteen Going On Thirty, Anchorman ll, Dallas Buyers Club, The Other Woman, and have featured on TV shows including Schitts Creek, GLOW, Stranger Things, The Masked Singer, Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, American Idol, The Voice, The Simpsons, South Park and Family Guy.

Not one to sit back on her laurels, Knight is still as passionate and driven about music as she was in her late teens in New York. In addition to her new book, she has a treasure trove of songs in her catalog and is putting together an all-female band with "good players", says the gifted keyboardist. Holly talked about her fight not to be pigeon- holed in roles defined by others, starting with her own mother who wanted her to become a concert pianist.

Knight went on to compose anthems that became the soundtrack for millions of people’s lives, and also created and crafted empowering odes to independence, liberation, and equality. These universal themes have never been more relevant than they are today which is why we still hear her music every day on television, films, and commercials. You could say her songs are in the category of Evergreen songs --the much sought-after songs that get licensed a lot.

In her new book, the songwriters Hall of Fame-inductee talks about how she delivers the goods and how she made her way through a field dominated by men. Get ready for taking a wild ride through the eighties world of rock ’n’ roll from a female’s perspective. I Am The Warrior is filled with fun stories about the popular songs we know and love that Holly wrote, including many surprises in her musical journey.

Holly Knight's book: I am The Warrior is available at Amazon.

Next book reading/signing event with Holly Knight is at the Book Soup in Hollywood on July 10th.

Tributes are pouring in worldwide for the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll.

Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock) rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue (1957) before launching a successful career as a solo performer. In 1960, she debuted as Tina Turner with the hit duet single A Fool in Love. The duo Ike & Tina Turner released hits such as It's Gonna Work Out Fine, River Deep – Mountain High, and Proud Mary. In the 1980s, Turner launched "one of the greatest comebacks in music history". Her 1984 multi-platinum album Private Dancer contained the hit song What's Love Got to Do with It, which won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year and became her first and only number one song on the Billboard Hot 100. Aged 44, she was the oldest female solo artist to top the Hot 100.

Her chart success continued with Better Be Good to Me, Private Dancer, We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome), The Best, and GoldenEye. During her Break Every Rule World Tour in 1988, she set a then-Guinness World Record for the largest paying audience (180,000) for a solo performer.

Twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, she received twelve Grammy Awards (including Lifetime achievement) and having sold over 100 million records worldwide, Turner is one of the best-selling recording artists of all time. Turner sometimes referred to herself as a Buddhist-Baptist. She said she converted in order to embrace change. Now she's on her new journey to change again. Turner chanted --Nam Myoho Renge Kyo (dramatized in the 1993 film What's Love Got to Do with It and in the 2021 documentary film Tina). Simply The Best. Godspeed.

The Bettermaker® Stereo Passive Equalizer (SPE) now nominated for a TEC Award 2023, is for those who seek outstanding EQ quality with the convenience of fast and precise recall and automation. The SPE offers a 100% analog signal path of legendary passive filters. All this with mastering grade sound and patented recall with the speed of a native plugin.

– 100% analog audio signal path

– USB connectivity with MAC/PC

– all parameters are digitally controlled by DAW (with dedicated plugin)

– stereo passive equalizer with extended hi-boost section (air bands: 20 and 28 kHz)

– adjustable output level (+/- 8dB)

Watch here 14-minute review - open your new box of a Bettermaker Stereo Passive EQ and hear its performance in the studio!

Bettermaker builds boutique signal processors worthy of worship in their own right, but then they level-up their incredible products with convenient, easy-to-use plug-in control and instant recall.

“It’s somewhat hard to believe Bettermaker improved one of the top stereo limiters in the marketplace,” added Brad Lunde, president, and founder of TransAudio Group. “From Grammy-award winners, to top international recording artists, home and free-standing recording studios, the original Mastering Limiter is that piece of go-to gear that adds that particular dynamic edge and significant touch towards the end of the recording process. The Bettermaker Mastering Limiter 2.0 has faster release time, a lowered noise floor and the same 100% analog signal path with the ease of digital plug-in control and recall. This one is a superstar product.” Watch Vlog review by DJ, Producer, Jon Sine of the new Bettermaker Mastering 2.0 here

"The Daking Mic Pre 4T, nominated for a TEC Award 2023, will elevate any recording offering unique solutions to common problems," say Brad Lunde (click top left image for a video presentation by Brad Lunde).

The “low-distortion” Jensen input and output transformers offer more linear low-end performance under super dynamic conditions. Daking’s own variable high-pass filter dials out the low-frequency mud that can be subsonic and will decrease available headroom. Built in the USA, Daking uses only high-end parts like Jensen input and output transformers in a high-end design using all-discrete transistor Class A circuitry. Unusually high 24dB of headroom and easy to read twenty segment meters make proper gain staging easy and forgiving under a wider array of conditions.

In celebration of its 50th anniversary, Auratone and its US distributor, TransAudio Group, introduced the first-ever Active 5C, now nominated for TEC Awards at NAMM 2023. The mono amplifier is designed and built in Europe in collaboration with the famous hardware manufacturer, Bettermaker. A careful R&D process has been implemented to maintain the original characteristics of the 5C, utilizing the same amplifier design from the NAMM TEC Award winning A2-30 amplifier. The unmistakable six-inch Auratone 5C Sound Cubes atop meter bridges, have guided engineers down the narrow and rocky path to mid-range nirvana. Indeed, its involvement in innumerable hits earned the 5C Sound Cube a NAMM TEC Hall of Fame Award in 2016.

“We were happy to get boutique Polish manufacturer Bettermaker together with Alex Jacobsen, owner, and grandson of founder Jack Wilson, for the perfectly matched A2-30 amplifier. Now, the two companies have collaborated to get a mono amplifier that contains the guts and soul of the A2-30 into each chassis for the active version,” says Brad Lunde, founder, and president of TransAudio Group. Like the other 5C variants, the Auratone ACTIVE 5C is made in the USA.

A-Designs (USA), ATC Loudspeakers (UK), Auratone, Bettermaker, Daking Audio, Drawmer, Hakan, Latch Lake, Mojave Audio, Mutec, Pete's Place Audio, Sabra-Som, Subwoofer Pros, and Tube-Tech 

Questions- pricing, availability and dealer locations please email sales@transaudiogroup.com

RECORDING ACADEMY^®'S BLACK MUSIC COLLECTIVE AND AMAZON MUSIC SELECTED FIVE STUDENTS ACROSS FIVE SCHOOLS TO RECEIVE IMMERSIVE ROTATION PROGRAM OPPORTUNITY AND $10,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS

The Recording Academy^®'s Black Music Collective (BMC) and Amazon Music selected Joseph Michael Abiakam (Norfolk State University), Langston Jackson (Hampton University), Kennedi Amari Johnson (Clark Atlanta University), Courtney Roberts (Texas Southern University), and Caleb Wilkerson (Florida A&M University), as the recipients of the "Your Future Is Now" scholarship, aimed for students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with the opportunity to learn and explore all facets of the music industry. "We are immensely proud to collaborate with Amazon Music in renewing this exceptional scholarship program for the third consecutive year," emphasized Ryan Butler, Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the Recording Academy.

For more information on the Black Music Collective and the "Your Future Is Now" scholarship, visit here 

The Guitar Center Music Foundation (GCMF), a nonprofit organization focused on granting instruments to music education and music therapy organizations, announces the expansion of its Board of Directors. Herb Trawick, longtime music industry professional and creator and co-host of the popular weekly web series Pensado’s Place, has been appointed to the organization’s leadership body. The announcement was made by David Helfant, Chairman of the Board of Directors at The Guitar Center Music Foundation, and signifies the ongoing growth of the foundation and its Board. David Helfant, Chairman of the Board of Directors at The Guitar Center Music Foundation, remarked, “Herb is one of the music industry’s true advocates for music education, disseminating vital information through Pensado’s Place and sharing his expertise with top brands, while serving on a number of boards and think tanks."

Formerly the Bridge Recording, a renowned Los Angeles scoring stage, the venue is now under new staffing and management as Silent Zoo Studios. The studio is reopening with Victor Janacua as manager and upgrades that include a re-capped 96-channel Neve VSP Legend console, with brand new computing power, and interfaces.

"As we emerge from pandemic restrictions, Victor comes to us at the perfect time for our further growth and position in Los Angeles," said Holden Woodward, owner, engineer, musician, producer, and indie filmmaker.

The distinctive facility was constructed to optimum professional standards originally designed by Kaufman and Assoc and has served thousands of projects to date. Silent Zoo's 1750 sq.ft. live room, adjoining isolation booths and spacious 875 sq.ft. control room allow for large-scale productions to record comfortably. While continuing its legacy in screen scoring, the studio is expanding to serve major recording artists and record labels. New video broadcast capabilities make remote recording and live streaming straight forward. Booking Contact: victor@silentzoostudios.com

WGA VS AMPTP

This month Late night shows, including Saturday Night Live, went dark due to Writers strike. There has been a sea change in the entertainment industry, from the proliferation of streaming platforms to the recent explosion of generative AI.

The 2023 Writers Guild of America strike is an ongoing labor dispute between the Writers Guild of America (WGA) labor union (representing 11,500 writers) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which began on May 2, 2023. The main focus point in the labor dispute is the residuals from streaming media. The WGA estimated that its proposals would yield writers about $429 million a year, whereas the AMPTP's offer would yield $86 million. One disputed issue is the Guild wanting requirements for "mandatory staffing" and "duration of employment" terms to be added to their contract. Streaming services’ use of smaller staffs — known in the industry as “mini rooms” — for shorter stints has made sustained income harder to come by, the guild says. Another important proposal that the WGA is advocating for is to ensure each member of a writing team receives their own pension and their own health care funds. Many films, television programs, and podcasts have been affected by the strike; some have been forced to continue production without writers, while others have been completely shut down. "Most of the movies to be released in 2023 and 2024 have already been written and even filmed," said AMC Theater CEO Adam Aaon. Mostly affected are Late-night talk shows, heavily dependent on same-day, current-events-based comedy writing. Like the WGA, SAG-AFTRA share similar concerns. If SAG-AFTRA strikes, with its 160,000 members, it just may get studios' attention. Meantime, business is not as usual, and it's yet to be seen if the writers will strike a deal instead of just a chord.

Multi-award-winning DJ, producer, singer-songwriter and one of 2022’s biggest breakout stars, Nia Archives, has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Warner Chappell Music, the music publishing arm of Warner Music Group.

Bursting onto the scene last year with her Forbidden Feelingz EP, Archives has become one of the most culturally relevant and hotly-tipped artists around right now. Leading the charge for the new generation of Jungalists, she has drawn praise from the likes of Rolling Stone UK, Mixmag, GQ, British Vogue, The Face, Pitchfork, The Fader, i-D, NME and more.

Last year, she won a number of big awards, including Best Electronic/Dance Act at the MOBOs, Best Producer at the NME Awards, DJ Mag’s Breakthrough Producer of the Year, BBC’s Introducing Artist Of The Year, AIM’s One to Watch, and was shortlisted for the BRIT Awards 2023 Rising Star Award.

She has also received airplay on BBC Radio 1, BBC 1Xtra, BBC 6 Music, KISS, and Rinse, and has been supported by Amazon Music, Apple Music and Spotify.

Nia Archives says: “Last year was a mad one for me and I am gassed to kick off 2023 by signing with Warner Chappell. Amber and her team have been super supportive of my music and I’m excited for the next chapter with an amazing publisher on board.”

Amber Davis, Head of A&R, Warner Chappell Music UK, adds: “Nia is a force to be reckoned with. She has set the scene alight with her incredible production and fresh take on a classic sound. Seeing her live and how the crowd reacted to her really blew my mind and it’s a rarity to come across someone who has it all. I’m truly delighted to be given the chance to work with Nia and her fantastic manager Tom Cater.”

Sony Music Entertainment UK announced the relaunch of legendary record label Epic Records UK and the appointment of Sarah Lockhart, who has been named President of the label effective from 1st May 2023.

Lockhart will report to Jason Iley, Chairman and CEO, Sony Music UK & Ireland. Epic Records UK will relaunch as a frontline label, operating alongside other iconic Sony Music labels including RCA, Columbia, and Ministry of Sound, with the ambition to champion global music and British culture. The announcement coincides with the anniversary of Epic Records, who will celebrate 70 years of recorded music in 2023.

Lockhart joins Epic from Sony Music Publishing, where she served as Head of A&R for three years and signed artists including BRIT Award-winning Aitch, PinkPantheress and D Block Europe.

Lockhart has been at the forefront of youth culture and London’s grassroots music communities for the past two decades. She co-founded East London community radio station Rinse FM, championing emerging artists in the early stages of their careers, and launching artists including Magnetic Man and Katy B. Lockhart successfully campaigned for its radio licence, building it from a pirate station into the recognised brand it is today. She also oversaw its community outreach, empowering and educating diverse and disadvantaged communities with skills and opportunities.

Lockhart spent four years at EMI Music Publishing where she had discovered seminal UK artist Ms Dynamite, Skepta and Benga & Skream.

Spearheading various brands that have a track record of supporting alternative audiences, Lockhart has consistently stayed at the forefront of music trends. In her early career, her label Tempa Recordings coined the genre name ‘Dubstep’ and her East London dubstep and grime club night FWD>> created a space for new underground music to thrive, inspiring countless artists and creatives of today. Lockhart was also instrumental in the development of UK garage through her work in distribution, where she was one of the key influencers on the evolution of the scene.

Jason Iley, MBE, Chairman and CEO, Sony Music UK & Ireland says: “I’m confident that Sarah is the right person to relaunch Epic UK and enrich its legacy while protecting its artist-first ethos. Throughout her career Sarah has challenged the norm, pre-empted trends, and supported artists from the very beginning of their careers.”

Sarah Lockhart, President, Epic Records UK says: “The pioneering global artists signed to Epic have inspired me and countless fans for decades. The relaunch of the label in the UK provides a once-in-a-lifetime chance to celebrate Epic’s legacy and build a culture that encourages us to think differently, honouring and supporting artists to create connection through the power of music.”

This year Cannes Film Festival opened with much fanfare on May 16 with the opening-night screening of Jeanne du Barry, starring Johnny Depp as King Louis XV. The film is directed by and co-starring the French actress and filmmaker Maïwenn.The biggest creative minds in film gathered to compete for the Palm D'Or prize. official poster of the 76th Festival de Cannes Festival (above right), created by Hartland Villa (Lionel Avignon, Stefan de Vivies) shows a young Catherine Deneuve, standing on Pampelonne beach, near Saint-Tropez. The photo shoot for the actress is by Jack Garofalo for Paris Match/Scoop.

The Festival is held in the stunningly beautiful city of Cannes on the French Riveiera at the Palais des Festivals et des Congres.

Cannes artistic director Thierry Frémaux and president Iris Knobloch, who took over the post last year from Pierre Lescure, announced a lineup of new films, including films directed by six women directors:

Alice Rohrwacher (La Chimera), Jessica Hausner (Club Zero), Catherine Breillat (Last Summer), Justine Triet (Anatomie d’une chute), Ramata-Toulaye Sy (Banel et Adama), and Kaouther Ben Hania (Olfa’s Daughters).

With 19 films currently on the slate, that means a full 31.5% of them are from female creators, a new Cannes record. In the festival’s nearly 80-year history, only two women have ever received the Festival’s award for Best Director, the first being Yuliya Solntseva for Chronicle of Flaming Years in 1961, and the latter being Sofia Coppola for The Bequiled in 2017

The big budget favorites: "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" which debuted in Cannes this week, along with a special tribute to Harrison Ford and Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon," an adaptation for Apple Studios of David Grann's non-fiction bestseller. Director Wes Anderson's highly stylized circa 1950s film, Asteroid City is garnering lot of attention.

Over 5000 short films were entered for the latest festival. Click here for information and procedures to submit your film for next year. Watch live stream from red carpet arrivals and special events here

The Idol, the brainchild of The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) and the “sick and twisted” minds behind Euphoria (Sam Levinson), will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May before debuting on HBO Max on Sunday, June 4th at 9pm ET.

Pop star, Jocelyn, is played by Lily-Rose Depp. Before her mother Vanessa Paradis became a Chanel model and actress, she actually first found fame at 14 as a teenage pop star in her native France. Paradis has kept up with her music career, most recently releasing a studio album in 2018.

The Idol is set against the backdrop of the music industry, centers on a self-help guru and leader of a modern-day cult, who develops a complicated relationship with an up-and-coming pop idol. The Weekend's After Hours Til Dawn Tour Begins on June 6, in Lisbon, Portugal.

TransAudio Group, the U.S. distributor for Drawmer, is introducing Ivor Drawmer's all new 1972 Dual Mic/Line and Instrument Mic Preamplifier. The unit distinguishes itself with its flexibility, unique feature set and simple operation, and is at home in both professional studio and live sound applications. As with all Drawmer products, the 1972 is hand-crafted in the UK with an all-steel chassis for bullet-proof reliability. Noted Brad Lunde, president of TransAudio Group and the U.S. distributor of Drawmer. “As usual, Drawmer studied the marketplace and engineered an affordable dual mic pre with one-of-a-kind features to meet today’s intricate recording issues and live sound applications. The 1972 is destined to be a staple piece of gear in every audio rack.”

Amazon $22.95

For Beck fans, the book by Aruthur Lizzie provides meticulous, chronological organization to his overwhelming official recorded output, for every album and every song! The list ranges from the experimentation of Stereopathetic Soulmanure and One Foot in the Grave, through the commercial and critical heights of Odelay and Morning Phase, and into the mainstream successes of Guero, The Information, and Colors. Along the way, details of more than 300 songs include the expected Where It’s At, the underappreciated Rental Car, and the obscure Brandon Nevins.

Beck Hansen has enjoyed three decades of success, creating an unprecedented variety of music and has pushed pop music boundaries and along the way covered genres of folk, anti-folk, lo-fi, alternative, hip-hop, rock, R&B, rap, country, noise, dance-pop, and electronica. Beck’s free-range approach to music and art was fostered at an early age. His father is the classically trained musician and arranger, David Campbell. His mother lived life of art, and his grandfather was a central figure in the experimental Fluxus scene. Beck absorbed these influences, then dropped out of school at age 14 to forge his own path. Just nine years later, he became an ‘overnight success’ with the so-called slacker anthem Loser.

Author Arthur Lizie has several books to his credit including Prince on Prince and Neil Young on Neil Young

Along with singing, performing, acting, podcasting, and newsletter writing, Dua Lipa is the new muse and co-designer for the Versace Summer line.

The new collection is called La Vacanza (The Vacation) and is part of the Versace High Summer line. The co-designed collection was presented in a fashion show on May 23 in Cannes, France, coinciding with the film festival. "Dua is strong, fearless, and free and her creative vision is exceptional,”said Donatella Versace. “She and I have formed such a strong bond over the years, and I’m so grateful for the support I’ve received from her and the whole team since the very beginning of my career,” says the English singer-songwriter Dua Lipa. So go ahead, plan your next vacation and watch the new line from Dua and Dona here